What caught the eye about Echuca’s round one Goulburn Valley League triumph over Tatura? Further analysis will come later in the week, but this is the First Look.
Echuca kicked away from Tatura late in the opening fixture of its Goulburn Valley League premiership defence campaign, piling on 8.5 to no score in the final term.
But you didn’t come here for a match report — you’re looking for cold, hard stats.
The Murray Bombers built their 2022 dominance on a midfield unit that could steamroll its opponents into submission, and the Bottle Green started 2023 in the same fashion on Easter Saturday.
Echuca was plus-27 in total clearances, including plus-11 in centre clearances, plus-10 in ball-up clearances and plus-six in throw in clearances.
While only one Tatura player recorded more than three individual clearances — Billy Cooper with six — five Echuca stars managed to match or better his effort.
Mitch Wales (six), Matt Lias, Sam Reid (eight), Sam Willoughby and Andrew Walker (nine) ensured the Murray Bombers claimed first use of the footy and did not relinquish it.
CLEARANCES
Total: Echuca 51, Tatura 24.
Centre: Echuca 17, Tatura 6.
Ball-up: Echuca 22, Tatura 12.
Throw-in: Echuca 12, Tatura 6.
INDIVIDUAL CLEARANCES
Andrew Walker, Echuca: 9
Sam Willoughby, Echuca: 9
Sam Reid, Echuca: 8
Matt Lias, Echuca: 8
Mitch Wales, Echuca: 6
Billy Cooper, Tatura: 6